NRPA in partnership with AAPRA bestowed its highest national award, the Gold Medal Award, to the Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation Department October 27 at NRPA's Congress and Exposition in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation has been proactive in regards to leaving significant areas in parks as “native“ or natural habitat while also establishing wild flower and native grass areas because of the numerous benefits of “natural landscaping”. These types of areas give park patrons a chance to experience and appreciate a part of nature that is not typically seen in a city environment. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently published “Green Acres, A Source Book on Natural Landscaping for Public Officials”, that includes the benefits of natural landscaping.